I’ve been fascinated with the NBA since being a 12-year-old kid posting on internet forums in 2005. Quite simply, the way the league has grown over the past 13 years is astounding and I can’t even imagine the growth that will continue to happen next decade.
Numbers and stats have always been a hobby of mine as well, comparing who’s better among certain players an active debate among friends, and just the love of the game in general.
So two years ago I decided to rank every player. A thought completely random that has led into a so far 27-month obsession with ranking 500+ players in order each season.
Completing a task like this requires patience, open-mindedness when listening to other fans that might know more than I do, consistent study of statistics, and watching as much action as possible.
A list like this will never be perfect but I do my best to get the ranking as close to accurate as possible.
Finally, there is one player in specific who will be ranked lower on this edition than most fans could even fathom, I’ve thought about where he’s ranked at the last couple of days and believe it’s an important discussion to be had.
Next 25
125. Justise Winslow
124. Larry Nance Jr.
123. Cody Zeller
122. Kyle Anderson
121. Rajon Rondo
120. Jeremy Lamb
119. Kelly Olynyk
118. Nicolas Batum
117. Terry Rozier
116. Lonzo Ball
115. Rudy Gay
114. Tyreke Evans
113. Patty Mills
112. Tim Hardaway Jr.
111. Evan Fournier
110. Jae Crowder
109. Eric Gordon
108. Dario Saric
107. Reggie Jackson
106. Al Farouq-Aminu
105. Jaren Jackson Jr.
104. Fred VanVleet
103. Enes Kanter
102. Danny Green
101. Gordon Hayward
Top 100 Best Players Of The 2018-19 NBA Season
100. Otto Porter Jr.
99. Lauri Markkanen
98. Caris LeVert
97. Marcus Smart
96. Dwyane Wade
These are the last 5 players currently of our current top 100. Caris LeVert showed a lot of promise early on in the season and his strong start is enough to put him on the list. I was very impressed with him early on and hope he comes back soon. Dwyane Wade also still has a top 100 spot in the twilight of his career.
95. Dennis Schroder
94. Goran Dragic
93. Darren Collison
92. Jarrett Allen
91. Ricky Rubio
Four point guards and one big giant afro stud muffin. Jarrett Allen has the skills to be a potential superstar, still just 20 years old. Very impressed with him. The other players are solid veterans with high enough IQ on the floor to keep a top 100 spot. Goran Dragic would likely be higher if not for injury issues this season.
90. Bogdan Bogdanovic
89. Derrick Favors
88. Brook Lopez
87. Nikola Mirotic
86. Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown had a strong sophomore slump to start the year but has bounced back and played well lately. I’ve also been really impressed with Bogdan Bogdanovic, his IQ is ridiculous and he’s not afraid to come up in clutch situations.
85. Jerami Grant
84. Spencer Dinwiddie
83. Jeff Teague
82. Bojan Bogdanovic
81. TJ Warren
Jerami Grant is the X-Factor for the Thunder and has low key had one of the more impressive seasons in the league. Dinwiddie is on the rise. TJ Warren’s improvement in long-range shooting gives his game much more versatility than in the past.
80. D’Angelo Russell
79. Harrison Barnes
78. Hassan Whiteside
77. Marcus Morris
76. Kevin Love
Any player who has played at all is eligible for this list, including Kevin Love. The more he remains out with an injury, the more his value is going down. D’Angelo Russell is having a career season so far. Marcus Morris is one of the nicest scoring threats off the bench in the entire league.
75. Aaron Gordon
74. Joe Ingles
73. Willie Cauley-Stein
72. Jonas Valanciunas
71. Gary Harris
I expected more from Aaron Gordon, who finished 48th overall for my ranking last season. Instead another player further up this list has taken the spotlight in Orlando. Willie Cauley-Stein is having a contract year and although he can be inconsistent there is serious talent with him. Gary Harris was on a tear when the season started, but recently came back from injury.
70. Andrew Wiggins
69. Brandon Ingram
68. Kyle Kuzma
67. Paul Millsap
66. JJ Redick
The 40 point game by Wiggins was impressive and with more of those games he will move up this list fast. Kuzma and Ingram have both low key improved this year so far. JJ Redick is having a career scoring season at 34 years old.
65. Robert Covington
64. Derrick Rose
63. DeAndre Ayton
62. Josh Richardson
61. Malcolm Brogdon
The bounce back of Derrick Rose is the most impressive NBA story of 2018. Ayton might not have the glamour of another certain rookie but he has shown serious long term potential and has been very consistent on offense lately. Malcolm Brogdon has played out of his mind the last month or so. He is slowly building his reputation.
60. John Collins
59. Thaddeus Young
58. Montrezl Harrell
57. Buddy Hield
56. Eric Bledsoe
John Collins is rising up this list fast and his sophomore surge came out of nowhere. Thaddeus Young is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. Montrezl is the Clippers’ Draymond. Buddy Hield is starting to reach his scoring potential. Eric Bledsoe is arguably the best two-way point guard in the NBA.
55. DeAndre Jordan
54. Lou Williams
53. Danilo Gallinari
52. Zach LaVine
51. De’Aaron Fox
De’Aaron Fox is leading the charge in making the Kings relevant again. His superstar potential has this Kings’ franchise looking very nice as we move steadily into next decade. Danilo Gallinari has had a nice bounce-back year.
50. Jamal Murray
49. Marc Gasol
48. Donovan Mitchell
47. Myles Turner
46. Nikola Vucevic
The Vucci Man is having an incredible season for Orlando. Myles Turner is a low key DPOY candidate. Jamal Murray can still be inconsistent but is showing more of his potential.
45. Serge Ibaka
44. Tobias Harris
43. Devin Booker
42. Al Horford
41. Chris Paul
Chris Paul has been injured, but even when on the floor he’s taken a step down from elite level to very solid piece to have for a contending team. Devin Booker has made small strides. Tobias Harris has so much talent and sometimes I’d just like to see more.
40. Jusuf Nurkic
39. Mike Conley
38. John Wall
37. Pascal Siakam
36. Julius Randle
John Wall is likely out for the season, and his value is down. The improvement of Pascal Siakam from the time he entered the NBA to now is wild. I think Julius Randle has All NBA potential within a few years.
35. Domantas Sabonis
34. Luka Doncic
33. Jayson Tatum
32. Khris Middleton
31. LaMarcus Aldridge
Luka has the best overall court awareness for a rookie in a very long time. That being said, I believe Jaren Jackson Jr has the best long term potential of any player in this rookie class.
30. Draymond Green
29. CJ McCollum
28. Andre Drummond
27. Victor Oladipo
26. Clint Capela
Clint Capela is proving he’s more than just a product of being with the reigning MVP. Draymond is bouncing back a little bit from a slow start to the season.
25. Klay Thompson
24. Steven Adams
23. Jimmy Butler
22. Kemba Walker
21. Jrue Holiday
Steven Adams is having one of the more underrated seasons in the league and I have him as a top 25 talent currently. Kemba is having a career season so far and could finish as high as the top 15 overall.
20. Ben Simmons
19. Kyle Lowry
18. Rudy Gobert
17. DeMar DeRozan
16. Bradley Beal
With Wall out, Beal is getting his chance as the primary option. It’s working out good so far, and he’s playing the best ball of his career. Rudy Gobert has low key improved. Ben Simmons has ridiculous talent and him being in the top 20 speaks to that.
15. Blake Griffin
14. Russell Westbrook
13. Kyrie Irving
12. Damian Lillard
11. Karl Anthony-Towns
Blake Griffin is showing he can be a dangerous player entering his 30’s.. Kyrie Irving I feel can make the Celtics a serious threat to win the Eastern Conference but unlike last season he must stay healthy.
10. Paul George
Paul George is having the best season of his career and is thriving in his prime. An elite mix of offense and defense, he gets the first spot on our top 10 list.
9. Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid is the first player on the top 10. The most dangerous low post offensive scoring threat in the NBA.
8. Nikola Jokic
A superstar who has the Denver Nuggets the 1st seed in the West even ahead of Golden State. A legitimate MVP candidate, and a unique game unlike we’ve ever seen before.
7. Stephen Curry
Although he missed some time with injury, Curry is playing at an elite level still in terms of being a generational scorer.
6. LeBron James
LeBron is 100% still an elite talent and I think by the end of the season he will finish higher than this.
All I’m saying is, unlike 2 years ago when I started this ranking, that as he is now 34 years old we are at a point in his career where the same rules apply to him as the other superstars.
The players ahead of him have played consistently at superstar levels in the time LeBron has been out. Once LeBron comes back I’m sure he will move back up this list. In the past, I gave him preferential treatment on this list due to his reputation but that time has ended.
Again, I want to emphasize, I believe he will finish higher than this by the end of the season.
5. Kawhi Leonard
I believe the Toronto Raptors will defeat the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals 4-3 and Kawhi Leonard will win Finals MVP.
4. Kevin Durant
Multiple players have named KD as the hardest player to guard in the league. My number 1 ranked player last year, with a strong playoff run I believe he could finish even higher than this.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Greek Freak continues to put on very impressive nights consistently and right now I believe him to be the favorite to win MVP.
2. James Harden
Currently on a ridiculous scoring stretch that we haven’t seen since Kobe in 2005-2006. The most unique scorer in NBA history.
1. Anthony Davis
Right now, Anthony Davis is pound for pound the best player in the NBA. Despite talented players in New Orleans, the team chemistry is poop. AD going to LA to join forces with LeBron would immediately make the Lakers the best team in the West.
